Did you vote?

We've seen the political bashing from both sides for quite awhile now. However, today is the day for U.S. citizens to stand up and be counted. You
have an opinion, strong or otherwise, back it up with a vote!

The flip side of this is that from now on I'm going to ask all those with political comments, "Did you vote?"

If the answer is "yes", then let's proceed with the discussion.

If you couldn't be bothered with taking the time and making the effort to vote, then IMO you have forfeited your right to spout your opinions on this
or any other forum.

Also, I have read about several instances where there are already problems with the electronic voting machines. Since this is a conspiracy site, I
will be very interested in seeing the results of the states encountering these problems. Especially if the group of states include the 8 or 9 senate
races that are very, very close and a must win for both parties.

I voted. Just got back from a little stroll to our voting place, the firehall, and a stop at the post office. I saw about 4-5 other voters there and
they said over 100 had shown up out of almost 800 registered here, so far. That's for the whole township, not just my little village.

My sister voted (next town over), and my mom is going this evening. When she can stand on the sidewalk and visit with people. 5 pm seems to have the
heaviest traffic around these parts.

It was simple enough and the committee told me that they do get a printout at the end of the night. To compare against the registration lists/voter
rolls. So long as those numbers square up, I'm satisfied. If that's true why would they say there is no paper trail?

Gonna be a great night, can't wait to see the People fire the Republicans--Rick Santorum specifically in my case.

Many people say they don't vote because there isn't much difference in the two top candidates. Some say they "vote" for the lesser evil.

I am a Republican, that is to say that I don't believe in everything the republicans stand for, only that there is more in their platform that I
approve than in the democrat platforms.

My thought are that Americans ignore their best choices by not voting in the primaries. We could make a difference there. Some good people
without name recognition or money bags do run. When I pick out one of these good people I am bombarded with those who tell me that I will be
"wasting" my vote. This is a self-fulfulling prophecy.

I used a machine, which makes whether or not I voted a subject of serious speculation.

Beyond that, I 2 members of the American Independent Party and 2 Libertarians for local offices... I know full well that I would have gotten just as
much benefit out of blowing my nose on that part of the ballot. I didn't consider it so much a vote as an "ef you" to the local party office
concerning a few positions of limited importance.

Since my ticket was pretty much split on the state offices though, I think it's a fair bet that at least half of my selections will be counted...
which half depends on who rigged the machine I used.

Edit to add: DJ, you'll save yourself a lot of time if you just add "I vote straight GOP" to your sig. Actually... you could save even more time by
making the reasonably safe assumption that most of us could have guessed that. Not knocking it really, just making an observation that you tend to be
pretty staunch.

Well, I voted. I have yet to miss an election, primary or general, since I became voting age (a decade ago).

I even vote in the boring local elections in off years!

Why? Because I honestly believe that it is very difficult to take any citizen's complaints seriously if that citizen doesn't vote. I am a bit of a
loudmouth when it comes to criticizing politicians and I really don't think that I could take myself seriously if i just whined and didn't vote.

All citizens of every democracy should vote, it's what makes democracy.

Originally posted by centurion1211
If you couldn't be bothered with taking the time and making the effort to vote, then IMO you have forfeited your right to spout your opinions on this
or any other forum.

I am moderate mostly anyways.. does not matter to me who wins.. I know nothing will change.. I know Dems don't actually have a plan for Iraq.. I know
even if they did and anything else they pass would get a big ol veto. We did not change the government so much as stall it in my opinion..

I am just glad those pathetic political commercials are gone.. every last one of those nasty devilish fools should be fired for the adds this season..
just horribly sad..

We have lever machines in my town. THey're been around since my grand-dad was voting. They still work. Hopefully we won't get those
stupid electronic machines.

I read that when you said it somewhere else today on ATS/PTS. I haven't seen one of those machines in quite a while, but I tell you what, I would
prefer to have one of those. Sure would beat so many questions with the electronic machines.

Alas, I am just happy that I was able to vote. I enjoy voting days so much! Feels good to be part of something larger.

We have lever machines in my town. THey're been around since my grand-dad was voting. They still work. Hopefully we won't get those
stupid electronic machines.

You really should put a word in with the county about buying one if they are ever retired. If you get lucky they'll need them back some day if we get
sick of the electronic machines, but if they don't that works out well too... you can start a little "Museum of Democracy" and put them right next
to the civil flag, and the constitution and charge big bucks for admission to those among us who eventually get nostalgic for the quasi-free
atmosphere, however illusory, that permiated the better parts of the 20th century.

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